Something I would defintely do different next time...

[TeamH5]

I don't know WHY I didn't think of this for our cruise cuz I do it every time I deploy, But....

We travelled with 3 kids aged 5,5 and 3. All stayed in the same stateroom so I knew space would be a premium. Thus I only used 1 suitcase for all 3 kids. My attempt at keeping things seperate and organized failed miserably! Lol

What I should had done and will do for future cruises/vacations is pack all their clothes into those Gallon sized ziploc bags. 1 complete outfit (pants, shirt, underwear, socks) per bag. Pack a couple extra bags with extra underwear and socks in case of accidents. This would have worked a lot better not only to keep us from digging through the suitcase, but it also would have made putting stuff in drawers a LOT quicker on that first day. AND it would have given me bags to put dirty clothes into as well and been able to keep them seperated from the clean clothes.

Lesson learned for me, hopefully a good tip that will help some other first time cruisers, or other cruisers in general! Lol

 

[DutchsMommy]

we did this when ds was younger and it was easier - esp. when i could just toss a bag at dh and tell him to 'prepare the boy'

 

[DutchsMommy]

we did this when ds was younger and it was easier - esp. when i could just toss a bag at dh and tell him to 'prepare the boy'

 

[MTmomma]

Yep we still do this. Although I didn't think about it for this cruise!

 

[kcashner]

The only thing I would add to this is to NOT pack all the clothes for any one person in one suitcase.

Pack each person's clothing (or at least kids) for the day in the ziplock bag. Then, make sure that at least one bag for each person is in each suitcase. If one case is lost, everyone has at least SOME clean clothing in the other cases!

 

[asimaaliyah]

Really good ideas everyone. We're going on our first cruise in may and I'm so lost as to where to start/what to pack it's crazy. But these tips are really helpful especially the not packing one person's clothes in one bag.

 

[mom of a lil pirate]

This is a great idea!! I always tend to pack too much so I think this will really help minimize what we bring too

 

[Alexander]

We used these:
http://www.ebags.com/product/ebags/packing-cubes-3pc-set/13032
and they were awesome! We are a family of four and we take 2 suitcases. Each member of the family has their own color packing cubes. It was so easy to pack, and find stuff. We dropped the cubes right into the drawers and didn't even have to unpack them.

 

[MelissaE1]

We used these:
http://www.ebags.com/product/ebags/packing-cubes-3pc-set/13032
and they were awesome! We are a family of four and we take 2 suitcases. Each member of the family has their own color packing cubes. It was so easy to pack, and find stuff. We dropped the cubes right into the drawers and didn't even have to unpack them.

We have been using these packing cubes for years also. Love them! One nice thing about them, if you are going on the Magic or the Wonder at least, is that the large ones stack perfectly (with the clothes still in them) in the steamer trunks.

We used the ziploc method for DD on our first cruise when she was four, and it worked beautifully. She could find an outfit for herself quickly and easily without help. At 13 she's quite self sufficient now, but thinking maybe I should start doing this for my somewhat clothing-challenged self...

 

[Queen of Oakville]

Not only do I use the zippy bags for the kids .... I do it myself too! I pack a full outfit in each bag, including jewelry. For my daughter, I include her hair clips in the bag.

 

[ksloane]

I did this when my daughter was small for all traveling. It does make life sooo much easier.

 

[kteesmumma]

My questions is with the ziploc bags. What size are you using and wouldnt it make the clothes wrinkled? I am considering doing this when we pack for the cruise. Considering we are staying one night in Disney before and one night in Disney after the cruise.

 

[ksloane]

I have used 1 gallon and 2 gallon, and did not have significant wrinkling at all...

 

[shoes99]

My questions is with the ziploc bags. What size are you using and wouldnt it make the clothes wrinkled? I am considering doing this when we pack for the cruise. Considering we are staying one night in Disney before and one night in Disney after the cruise.

I have used 1 gallon and 2 gallon, and did not have significant wrinkling at all...

We are also doing pre and post stays and I use 2 gallon ziploc bags. I roll my clothes and also do not have significant wrinkling. I don't put DH dress slacks in bags unless I have the thin cleaner bags.

 

[kteesmumma]

I dont think I would do this for mine or DH's clothes, but definately for the kids clothes, so I dont think there would be much wrinkling seeing that their clothes are much smaller. But then again I would be concerned about DD's dresses and DS's polo shirts for dinner.

 

[Jenene]

That is my question too... how do I fit a whole outfit in a ziplock? The cubes would be great, but I don't wish to spend the extra money right now, so the largest ziplocks are gallon right?

 

[lbgraves]

I used the gallon ziplocks when the kids were younger and have used the 2 gallon since then at times. When they were young and DD's outfits were sets, putting the matching pieces in ziplocks was the ONLY way that I could ensure that she had matching outfits at the end of the week. I could just tell DD [or DH] to pick an outfit out of the drawer and no worrying about being mismatched. The clothes never wrinkle this way. I fold them neatly and then have the kids sit on the bag to get the air out while I zip them up.

ETA, I didn't put DD's dresses in the ziplocks. I just put those in the suitcases. I did pack her princess dresses [6] in the larger travel bags. You just roll the air out of them and zip them up. It really consolidates the space. Now that she has outgrown them, they are stored in the closet in the zip bags.

 

[Queen of Oakville]

There is a bit of wrinkling, but it is not significant. I do pack a small travel steamer which works really well. Each morning, the clothes get hung up and takes just a couple of minutes to pass everything with the steamer.

I use the small ziplock bags (sold as "medium") for a daytime outfit like t-shirts and shorts. I use the large bags for a night outfit.

I can fit my long dress, undergarments and jewelery in a large bag. For my son, I can get his dressy pants, dress shirt, tie, socks, and briefs into a medium bag. Most of dd's clothes can fit into a medium bag. I carefully layer the outfit, and then roll it to fit it into the zippy.

The benefits to me are:
-clothes take less space in suitcase
-the outfits are all pieced together, so you know exactly which top goes with which bottom.

Packign this way, also forces me to make sure I pack the entire outfit because I see it laid out on the bed before rolling. There is no forgetting a tie or matching socks or undies.


When I'm extra anal, I will label the bags with sharpies to know what day the outfit is to be worn on.

 

[tluther5406]

The huge Ziploc XX Large bags are great for packing dirty clothes as well. You can sit on the bags to get all the extra air out so they take up less space in the luggage going back leaving more room for souvenirs, etc. You just have to be careful about being overweight with your luggage if flying since the XX Large bags can easily hold 50-75 lbs of clothes in a large piece of luggage.

 

[TCCDad]

We have been using these packing cubes for years also. Love them! One nice thing about them, if you are going on the Magic or the Wonder at least, is that the large ones stack perfectly (with the clothes still in them) in the steamer trunks.

We used the ziploc method for DD on our first cruise when she was four, and it worked beautifully. She could find an outfit for herself quickly and easily without help. At 13 she's quite self sufficient now, but thinking maybe I should start doing this for my somewhat clothing-challenged self...

eagle creek makes great packing folders and cubes in a lot of different colors so a different color for each family member. The folders are great for keeping clothes wrinkle free.